Earlier this month American Whitewater was invited as the sole public witness to testify on the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act. You can read a copy of our testimony as delivered before the House Subcommitee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands through the link to the right. While no public witnesses were invited to testify before the Senate, we worked with a number of our partner organizations to submit joint written testimony which you can view through the link to the right.

The next step for these bills is committee markup followed by action on the House and Senate floor. The timing will depend on other Congressional priorities but the legislation has enjoyed strong public support and we remain optimistic that we will see success this Congress.

Opportunities to Take Action

1) Thank the Co-Sponsors. The co-sponsors include both Senators from Washington, 5 Congressmen from Western Washington, and 2 Congressmen from the Chicago area.

Sen Murray, Patty [WA]
Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA]

Rep Reichert, Dave [WA-8]
Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3]
Rep Inslee, Jay [WA-1]
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2]
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7]
Rep Quigley, Mike [IL-5]
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9]

If you are represented by any of these Senators or Congressmen a quick note of thanks for their leadership in protecting the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Pratt would be especially helpful. Be sure to include the bill number in the subject line and identify yourself as a whitewater paddler who enjoys the opportunities these rivers provide.

2) Track progress with the legislation.

You can track progress with this legislation through the following links

S. 721
H.R. 1769

3) Support the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) efforts to complement protection efforts for federal lands with a state designation of a new Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resources Conservation Area. This area will include lands along the river from Russian Butte View (about 3 miles upstream of the Concrete Bridge) to the Mailbox Peak trailhead (where the pavement currently ends) including the day use area and river access at Island Drop.

American Whitewater has written a letter in support (view through link to the right) of this designation which will lead to management of the DNR lands along the Middle Fork Snoqualmie in a manner that enhances ecological systems and habitat for threatened, endangered and sensitive plants and animals, while providing opportunities for education and low-impact public use.

Paddlers who enjoy the Middle Fork are encouraged to consider writing a letter of support and local members of the paddling community should consider attending the public meeting on Monday, November 23 at 6 pm at the North Bend Railroad Depot, 501 McClellan Street, North Bend, WA to voice their support. Additional details on can be found on the DNR website <http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/News/Pages/nr09_180.aspx>